Got a call from TalkTalk to upgrade to TV / Youview package

blon

Hello,
Today, after having been a TalkTalk Essentials customer for 13 months, TalkTalk called me out of the blue to offer me an upgrade for a TV package "at no extra" cost. I'm currently paying 10-12 GBP on average a month including a free International Calls Boost (I pay line rental once a year upfront). The new package would cost me 11 GBP (7.5 for essentials + 3.5 for TV) - they said it's a special offer for a valued customer. It would be an 18-month contract though.

I replied that I would need to see this all in written. They said that I could if I accepted the offer now but I would then be eligible to cancel anytime before the go-live date (they could already offer one next week), so I agreed.

In retrospect, I am very uncertain whether I made the right choice. My concerns after browsing the web are:

- slower broadband speed because they seem to increase the noise margin on your line, resulting in a more reliable connection (for streaming) but slower speed. My broadband speed is about 8-10 Mbps now, and I am concerned it could become too slow after the upgrade. It works fine now and I do not want to risk compromising it. I would be less concerned if there was already fibre in my area, which isn't yet.
- 18-month contract that moves whereever I go, unless it's outside the UK in which case I would need to pay 10 GBP a month for the remaining months. It's in fact not unlikely that I get a job offer to move abroad in 1 year.
- I have already freeview in my house, and seem to only get additional channels from TalkTalk if I pay for them by booking additional packages which I would probably not do (not watching TV that much). Also I am not fond of on-demand services, as I find them overpriced for the quality and prefer to rent a bluray.
- He tried to sell me that the Youview box would include a BBC iplayer but I already have this on my Samsung SmartTV that's connected to the net.
- All my previous promotions would be cancelled like the free international calls boost, although the total price of 11 GBP would not be higher than my current average.

The only pro i see from the offer is that I would get free calls to UK landlines which I do not have now.

All in all, is it a good package or should I cancel it right away? If I cancel, will I have my previous status back (with the free international calls boost) or are they likely to hold it back?

Thanks for any helpful advice.

Bob

kwikbreaks

If you don't need what is being offered, and it seems you don't, then cancel it.

thunder65

Firstly I'd be interested to find out what you actually get in writing. Having been with Talk Talk for sometime I've had little in actual writing from them and my present contract arranged almost 18 months ago was all done verbally.
I cannot understand why you are not getting free anytime UK calls on your essentials package already but the international calls option seems to be at an end now with their new packages.
You are very fortunate to have download speeds of between 8 - 10mbps. Only after fighting hard this year did they increase mine from 0.8 to 3.2mbps. After hearing that the youview box can halve download speeds I am reluctant to get one although they are a little more than just another freeview box with the ability to record and watch programs back from up to 7 days ago. I wonder have they offered you free installation as well rather than the £50 set up charge they had previously been pushing?
As usual too many variables to know whether or not you have done OK. If in doubt cancel and see what they offer you!

blon

Thanks for joining in.

Yes, the 50 GBP setup charge would have been offset by a credit to my account of the same amount.

Honestly, I think it is a good offer they made me "as their valued customer" - if I had intended to book a TV package anyway, it would have been a very good price. However, I do not like being talked into a contract via the phone, prefer to have an offer in written and think about it in the calm. This is why in the end I called them the same day and asked for a cancellation. They understood it, did not require me to explain why (like for example credit scoring agencies like Experian who won't let you go), and said they would take care of everything to make sure I have the same boosts and benefits as before. However, 24h later, I have no evidence that they really reverted me back to my old deal, as I keep receiving emails and SMS that I will soon get TV service :-(.

Why I canceled the deal:
- I agree that recording TV can be useful for some, but not for me, as I am not very fond of normal TV program and prefer to watch blurays, live streams from the net etc.
- I did not want to have to bother with another device (the Youview box) as many of the features it has are covered by my Samsung SmartTV (BBC iplayer etc). Also, I have a computer connected to my TV via HDMI so can already do everything TV-wise that I need.
- The sales people lied to me about my downstream speed. They told me it was 10.1 Meg when in fact, after I checked, I realised it's only 8.1 Meg as per the router and in practice only 6.5 Meg as per TalkTalk and other speed checks. For me, this is not enough reserves to justify risking losing some of that valuable bandwidth. My motto is: Never stop a running system.

If they had offered me HD TV or fibre broadband, then they would really have had a significant improvement to offer me, but keeping basically the same TV channels with just added recording capabilities and reduced surfing speed, no thanks.